A Tap on the Shoulder: External Influences as Catalysts for Professional Change

Not all community college presidents begin their careers with the goal of becoming president, yet something causes them to alter their initial career paths to seek a presidency. Understanding how community college leaders make the decision to seek and subsequently prepare for a presidency can help identify candidates with the potential to fill anticipated vacancies, meet national needs, and lead innovation. This article explores one set of findings from a year-long study that reveals the importance of external influences as catalysts for changing a potential leader's career path.